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Home›Duel›Tesla Model 3 vs Mercedes CLA

Performance comparison

Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD vs Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ technology: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

TeslaBEVFaster

Model 3 Long Range AWD

346 hp · 605 Nm · 1,847 kg · 2019

VS
MercedesBEV

CLA 250+ with EQ technology

272 hp · 335 Nm · 2,055 kg · 2025

MotorwayRange & chargingPerformance0-100, top speedConsumptionAnnual TCO

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Model 3 Long Range AWDCLA 250+ with EQ technology
0–100 km/h4,44 s−2,39 s6,83 s
400 m standing start12,80 s−2,20 s15,00 s
1,000 m standing start23,49 s−3,41 s26,90 s
Top speed (electronically limited)233 km/h+23 km/h210 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio5,34 kg/hpbetter ratio7,56 kg/hp

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

TeslaBEVModel 3 Long Range AWD
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
MercedesBEVCLA 250+ with EQ technology
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Winner in green.

PalierModel 3 Long Range AWDCLA 250+ with EQ technology
0–30 km/h1,18 s1,93 s
0–50 km/h1,97 s3,23 s
0–80 km/h3,26 s5,20 s
0–100 km/h4,44 s6,83 s
0–120 km/h5,93 s8,93 s
0–160 km/h10,48 s15,59 s
0–200 km/h17,45 s26,18 s
400 m standing start12,80 s15,00 s
1,000 m standing start23,49 s26,90 s
Top speed233 km/h210 km/h

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

Tesla

Model 3 Long Range AWD

5,34kg/hpratio better by 2,22 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power346 hpDual Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
Torque605 Nm
Weight1 847 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxSingle-speed fixed gear
Mercedes

CLA 250+ with EQ technology

7,56kg/hpcompensated by −208 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power272 hpPending
Torque335 Nm
Weight2 055 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxUnknown

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Model 3 Long Range AWD hits 100 km/h in 4.44 s versus 6.83 s for the CLA 250+ with EQ technology. At this point, the Model 3 Long Range AWD leads by 2.39 s and sits roughly 24 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Model 3 Long Range AWD is doing 143 km/h against 128 km/h for the CLA 250+ with EQ technology. The gap is 1.68 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Model 3 Long Range AWD crosses the line in 12.80 s versus 15.00 s. The 2.20 s gap represents roughly 93 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Model 3 Long Range AWD continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 196 km/h versus 176 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Model 3 Long Range AWD finishes in 23.49 s versus 26.90 s, with a 3.41 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

The Model 3 Long Range AWD features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the CLA 250+ with EQ technology’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Model 3 Long Range AWD is capped at 233 km/h, the CLA 250+ with EQ technology at 210 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

With two electric powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.34 kg/hp vs 7.56 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Unknown).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 10.25 seconds. The 2.39 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of CLA 250+ with EQ technology
Bmw i4 eDrive35

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Model 3 Long Range AWD wins (4,44 s vs 6,83 s).

Model 3 Long Range AWD goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,44 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Model 3 Long Range AWD: 346 hp, ratio 5,34 kg/hp. CLA 250+ with EQ technology: 272 hp, ratio 7,56 kg/hp.

Model 3 Long Range AWD: 233 km/h. CLA 250+ with EQ technology: 210 km/h.